Aldar’s master planned community on Reem Island is on its way to becoming one of the most attractive destinations in Abu Dhabi, with its focus on lifestyle driven amenities and residential development projects. The 2.4-kilometre Reem Island canal now flows alongside 35 plots within Aldar’s master planned community, bringing waterside views, promenades, seating and areas for exercise and socialising to the island’s steadily growing population, as well as visitors from other parts of the city.

The beach near the head of the canal is expected to become home to many community events following the success of Aldar’s inaugural Reem Weekend. Over 5,000 visitors enjoyed a weekend that included organic food vendors and food trucks, street performances, live art, sports and children’s activities, as well as a pop-up market.

Reem Central Park is set to become a focal point for the city when it opens to the public in 2018. The park will feature a 2,000 worshippers mosque with a tranquil reflective pool, F&B outlets, a retail centre, a skate park, play areas, and interactive water features. Reem Central Park’s attractions and amenities will also lead to a natural waterfront, including a 4km promenade that will feature edu-tainment opportunities on the area’s natural reserves and plant life. Construction is underway with streetscaping complete and the coastalscape nearing completion, with hard and soft landscaping and infrastructure expected to commence in July.

The successful sell out of The Bridges has been supported by the diverse buyer base, including younger purchasers eager to make their first property investment, as well as buyers who are brand new customers for Aldar. With homes ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, and complemented by a range of amenities set within a landscaped environment, The Bridges will set a new benchmark for mid-market homes in the UAE upon its completion in early 2020. Meera, Aldar’s first mid-market development on Reem Island, is making strong progress with the structure now at the 16th floor out of 26.

In addition, construction for the Vida Hotels and Resorts project is scheduled to start this year for completion in 2020. Vida will operate a 262-key hotel and 192 serviced apartments. These will be accompanied by Aldar’s 329 marina residences within the development, which will add to the 5,000 homes already within its leased residential portfolio.

Ensuring that residents and visitors can find and enjoy unique experiences, Aldar’s Shams Boutik is home to Reem Island’s only Nando’s, Starbucks and Johnny Rockets outlets, as well as leading supermarket Waitrose and children’s activity centre Action Zone. A Burjeel Day Care Centre will open in Shams Boutik in August this year.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar Properties, said: “Our master-planned community on Reem Island is developing at a rapid pace, spurred on by modern lifestyle and community focused amenities such as the canal, Reem Central Park, Vida Hotel and Residences, exciting event spaces, and of course our mid-market residential projects Meera and The Bridges. In addition to being incredibly attractive for owner occupiers, Reem Island continues to capture the attention of investor audiences, with well over 60 per cent of the plots in our master plan currently in various stages of design and construction, and the balance earmarked for future development opportunities by us as well as third parties.”